Hydatidosis is a world-wide zoonotic parasitic disease which is caused by the larval stage of tape worm Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. It is highly endemic in some regions of the world. Keeping in view the importance of the disease, the present study was conducted to record the age, sex, species and season wise prevalence of hydatidosis in small ruminants. The study also includes comparison of the two serological tests used for the diagnosis of this disease and efficacy of mebendazole was aIso evaluated. Prevalence and organ specificity of hydatidosis was studied in 2400 sheep and 2400 goats of different age and sexes. The overall prevalence of hydatidosis in sheep and goats was 8.25 and 6.21 percent respectively. Sex wise prevalence indicated that it was 9.85 and 7.85 percent in female and male sheep respectively whereas in female and male goats it was 5.83 and 7.23 percent respectively. A reasonably higher prevalence of hydatidosis was observed in female animals as compared with males. In adult animals hydatid cysts were present in 11.38 and 7.77 percent in sheep and goatsrespectively while in lambs and kids it was 1.79 and 1.06 percent respectively. Statistically no significant difference was observed in any season through out the year in both the species. In the present study, lungs were found to be most commonly infected organ in sheep andliver in goats. Out of 198 infected sheep, 45.45 percent had cysts in lungs, 33.84 percentin liver, 10.10 percent in both liver and lungs, 2.53 percent in spleen, 2.02 percent in heart and 6.06 percent in abdomen and thoracic cavity whereas in goats organs specificity was 34.23, 40.27, 16.78, 0.67, 8.05 percent respectively for lungs, liver, lungs & liver both, spleen and abdomen and thoracic cavity. A total of 60 cysts in sheep were examined for fertility and it was found that out of 18 cysts of less than two centimeter size, maximum (50 percent) were suppurative orcalcified and minimum (16.7 percent) were fertile in nature. Of 30 cysts of 2-4 em size,
40 percent were suppurative and 40 percent were fertile and from 12 cysts of more than
four centimeter size, maximum (66.7 percent) were fertile and only 16.7 percent were
sterile in nature. In goats, of 15 cysts of less than 2cm size, maximum (46. 7percent) were
suppurative, and minimum (13.3 percent) were fertile. Of 7 cysts, belonging to the group
of more than four centimeter seize, 71.4 percent were fertile in nature and only 14.3
percent were sterile. Overall fertility rate in sheep and goats was 38.33 and 36.96 percent
respectively whereas overall sterility rate was 23.3 and 32.60 percent in sheep and goats
respectively.
In sheep, total number of protoscolices found in 23 cysts was 936 of which 72.65 percent
were fertile in nature. The mean of total proto scolices was 40.70 with standard deviation
of 23.05 whereas the mean number of viable protoscolices was 29.57 percent with a
standard deviation of 18.92. In goats, total number of protoscolices observed in 17 cysts
was 719 whereas only 52.71 percent were fertile in nature. The mean of total

protoscolices was 42.30 with a standard deviation of 17.13 whereas mean of viable
protoscolices was 22.30 with standard deviation of 17.10.
Blood samples of 40 positive and 40 negative sheep for hydatid disease were collected
from slaughter house and serum was separated. ELISA and IHA test were applied on
these samples. The sensitivity, specificity, efficacy, positive predictive value and negative
predictive value of ELISA were 92.5 percent each whereas these values for IHA were 80
percent, 97.5 percent, 88.75 percent, 96.96 percent and 82.98 percent respectively. In
goats, blood samples from 40 positive and 40 negative cases of hydatidosis were
collected from slaughter house before slaughtering and ELISA and IHA were applied on
all of these samples. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA was 90 percent and 95
percent respectively whereas the sensitivity and specificity of IHA was 75 percent and
97.5 percent respectively.
A total of 12 i.e. 6 sheep and 6 goats (healthy) were purchased and kept at Ravi campus
Pattoki, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. These were divided into
experimental (4 sheep and 4 goats) and control group (two sheep and two goats). In
experimental group, 100 eggs of Echinococcus granulosus were given orally to all
animals and then mebendazole was given to two sheep and two goats on zero day and
then after two months intervals. Blood samples were collected from all animals on zero
day, 90 days and 180th day and serum was separated. ELISA and IHA were applied to all
samples. Mebendazole was not found completely effective and ELISA detected the
infection earlier than IHA. On postmortem examination, multiple cysts were found in all
animals of group A and no cyst was found in group B.

Eighty blood samples of humans i.e. 40 positive and 40 negative for hydatidosis were
coilected, serum was separated and ELISA and IHA test were applied to all the samples.
The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA was 95 percent and 97.5 percent respectively
whereas the sensitivity and specificity of IHA was 82.5 percent and 97.5 percent
respectively.
The present study will be helpful in disseminating the informations regarding the
prevalence, zoonotic importance, effect of mebendazole in animals and the use of
immunodiagnostic tests for the diagnosis of hydatidosis in small ruminants and human
beings.